For decades I used O/Us and still have my favorate ones. Now I use nearly exclusively svelt, easy handling, 6,0-7,0 lbs 12 and 16 gauge hammer doubles, mostly from 100+30/-10 years ago. Always preferred long barrels, mostly 75 cm (29,5 inches)-- 28 inches is a short barrel -- with at least one full choked. Semi-pistol grips were always preferred -- straight grips least because of lesser control. In warm weather double triggers prefered, with single triggers having a bit of an edge in winter when wearing heavy gloves, or double triggers made for use with heavy gloves. Foreends are splinter-type, with leather hand/barrel guards SOP. Narrow, lightweight slings are also SOP on guns when hunting. More and more I hunt with easy carrying, 6 1/4 - 6 1/2 lb 16s.
Once used lots of 1 1/4 oz (36 grams) 1200 fps lead loads in 12 ga 7,5-8,0 lb O/U for hunting. Now my standard hunting loads are 1,0 oz (28 grams) at 1200-1300 fps in 12s and 16s with 65 and 67 mm chambers -- these guns were designed for these loads. Took my first limit of geese long, long ago with 28 grams of USA #6 lead shot. Last geese fell to 28 grams of #5 bismuth. Lifetime total for ducks with 28-30 grams Bismuth is approaching that with heavier loads of hard Pb alloy shot -- really cannot see much difference in killing power in field.
I still dislike case colors and extensive engraving for hunting guns. Prefer bare metal "coin finish, french grey, Ni-plating, etc." on sidelocks and lock boxes. Nice figured wood is always nice but my guns all have original, rather straight-grained wood. Simple, functional checkering, either net or diamond, is SOP.
In short, simple, elegant, deadly, easy carrying old hammer doubles have displaced simple, deadly O/Us that weight 1,0-2,0 lbs more.
Niklas
Niklas
